Combined typewriting and computing hachine



April 23, 1929. w. E. ToRFs COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1922 @um n .Em u .Bm Em S l o; @E l gli cov .w on; mm l com umm) Q Q Q f o; 8; 03mm @om n s. ,fznozm 205.2328 225mm E25 225k .N .um

/m/enfor: 92%; 6" W by www @uw n Patented Apr.' 23, 1929e UNITED STATS i 1,709,963 PATET orrlcu.

WALTER E, TORFS, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE, ZBY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COIYEANY, DE' NEW YORK, N.

DELAWARE. y

Y., A CORPORATION OF COMBINED TYPEWBITING AND COMEUTING MACHINE.

Application led April it, 1922.1 Serial No. 552,608.

This invention relates to vcombined typewriting and computing machines, and more particularly tomeuns `whereby, in addition to computing` the amount of material purchased or consumed, the Vcost of said amount will be computed andthe corresponding reading displayed. 4

As herein disclosed, the invention is illustrated in connection with an Underwood- Hanson bookkeeping machine for preparing the bills of a public utility company selling gas at the rate of $1.00 per thousand cubic feet.

Each bill or work-sheet is provided with four Zones in which entries are to be made in connection with the actuation of the computing` mechanism, two of these Zones or columns bei ng designated by Present and Previous to indicate that the readings of the meter are to be typed therein, and the other two being 'designated by Consumption and Amount, and being intended to have therein, respectively, the difference between the meter `readings and the chargev Jfor the amount consumed.

The. typing and computing mechanisms are combined in a Way to simplify the makingout of a bill for ,gas consumption or other purposes. The bill is divided into zones, and it is only necessary to copy an amount into each zone; no mental computation being demanded. rll`he first number so copied denotes the total number of cubic feet of EQjas that have been delivered. in the second zone is copied the number of cubic feet which have been previously paid for. In the main register, one of hese amountsr is automatically subtracted from the other, and hence theregister shows the difference. This difference is now copied in the third Zoneon the worksheet. At the same time there is automatically ascertained'the amount, in dollars and cents, which constitutes the correct charge for the consumed gas,thereby avoiding liability oi error which would occur in mental computation. rThis ascertained amount appears in and is copied from a speeiai register into the fourth zone on the worksheet. Said registers are automatically cleared' during the foregoingf operation. n 'additional register is provided in which vautenurticaliy to accumulate the charges; and another register in which are accumulated automatically the quantities delivered,

'llhe mechanism may be set for addition in the first column subtraction in the second, subtract-ion in the third, and addition in the -fourth. ldour registers are provided,the first at the left being' used to accumulate the numbers written in the Consumption column, the second or main register being used to compute the numbers which later are Written in the Consumption column, the-third or computing register being used to compute the amount afterwards written in the Amount column, and the fourth being used to accumulate the numbers of the charges written in the Amount columns of various bills. The dial-wheels in the first and third regu isters are provided with digits arranged 1n the reverse or the usual order, and the chine is so set that, upon Writing the present reading of the meter in the corresponding column, this numberwill be run into the second register, and, upon writing,1 the previous readingI in the nextcolumn of the bill, this number will be subtracted from the number previously run into the second register, thereby showing in the second register the amount consumed in the interratil for which the charge is to be made. 'lthe number read from the second register is then-typed in the Consumption column of the bill and subtracted out of the second register, and added into the first and third registers, due to the fact that in the first and third registers the digits on the dial-wheels ventend around the iatter in the reverse of the usual direction. it should be understood that the second register is cleared by this operation. Upon typing', in the last column of the bill, the number shown in the third register, this number wiil be subtracted out of the third register, thereby clearing the same, and will be added into the fourth register, in which siich amounts are to be accumulated.

For the purpose of using; a machine of standard construction, invvhich the registers' have the sume capacity, provision is made for converting the third and fourth registers into registers of lower denominations, ej/covering` the wheel ot' lowest denomination in each of these registers by means of a shutter or the like. The covered dial may be brought into usel again at will by sliding' the-shutter oid.

Following the same generai line arrange ment, a bookkeeping machine equipped as described maybe used for other purposes, fof

example, in connection with preparing bills for electric service at $.10 per kilowatt-hour.

@ther Jieatures and advantages will hereinafter appear.

lin 'the :accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing parts of a bookkeeping machine of the Underwood-Hansen type ofstandard manufacturea 7iligure 2 is a diagrammatic View indicating the manner in which the various items typed on the Work-sheet are added into or subtracted out oiE the various registers.

Figure Si is a view of the lower iront part of the bookkeeping machine, showing at the the registers from which, respectively, the nmounts of the bills und the accumulations of said amounts may be reed.

The invention is illustrated as usd in the preparation of ges bills il, each of which is provided, `from left to right, With zones or columns l2 to i?, inclusive., to receive, rcspectively, the date of the last pr' vious reading oi2 the meter, the date oi the present readoit the meter, the present reading of the meter, the previous reading oi the meter, the amount consumed or the difference of the meter readings, and the amount of the bill.`

Preferably, the headings, Present, Previous, Consumption, and Amount are provided 12er columns ld to i7, inclusiveu ln carrying out the invention, use may be mede of an lUuderwood-llanson bookkeeping machine provided with tour standard registers i8, designated from left to right, respectively, as Reg l, Reg 2, leg. 3, sRega 4i, Each of the registers usually includes nine dial or number Wheels i9, from which the results oiI computations may bc reed through sight-openings 20 inthe casn ing 2l., Preferably, the spaces between groups of three number-Wheels are considered as punctuation-spaces, and, us herein disclosed, 'these spaces are indicated by sui-table mrirlrings 22 on the casing 2l, .adjacent the sight-openings 20. v

depression of s, number-key 23, when the csr ge is computing Zone, a corresponding type-bnr 25 ywill be swung upond r' srwerdly, to cause s type 26 `thereon to p .nt on e Work-sheet extending the platten 27, which is rotatably mounted on 'the carriage 2d; ,dit the saine the number-hey has a signiticant pin-setting ber 28, corre- 'to 'the significant digit on the number-key, will be depressed by means, not shown, 'to set sn index-pin 29 of the proper velue on a denominational pin-bs u -r -30 -which nos been selected by the carrie, O is a pin-bar 30 for each dia i eeen register, as indicated tor TW' n rigore provide n'roases settable at letter-space distances along the carriage and having tappets 32 at different positions from iront to rear, so as to determine which set ot' jacks 33 is to be actuated thereby,.the jacks for the diierent registers having their forward ends oiisety from front to rear. `Upon engagement ot' a tappct 32 with a jack 33, the latter `will be rocked about its pivot 3d to give a downward thrust to s rod 35, and, through a lever 3G, a transposisition linkage 3T and a bell-crank 3S, advance the corresponding pin-bar 8O to permit :t pin 29 to be set by one of the bars 0bviously, when the carriage is at rest in a computing Zone, one of the pin-bars 3() or a corresponding group will be in advanced position, end the typing of a significant digit will cause the corresponding pin on the pinbar to be set. No movement ont the carriage by the usual escapernent mechanism will take place until the pin has been set.

After a number to be computed in a given register hss been typed und the digits thereof indexed by means o the pins 29 on the proper set or sets of pin-bars 30, the piu-bars are advanced by u general operator, not shown, in accordance With the setting of the pins und the number indexed on the pins is run into the register or registers. rlhe bars 30 octuate the dial-Wheels 19 by means of racks 39, ai; the forward ends ofE the' burs 30, and pinions 420 meshing with the racks 39 und having the usual one-Way connecttions with the dial-wheels 19. rEhe mechanism, of which only a diagrammatic showing been made, may be similar in general to the mechanism disclosed in the patent to l?. 1l. Hart, No. LQ'Z/Hl, defied dune 25, lll, and the patent to lilinton, No. i,280,065, dated September Qd, 1918.

FChe use eti the bookkeeping machine in Writing a bill is shown diagrannnaticully in T The bill ll is inserted around the platen 2? in the proper position longitudinelly thereof, and the dates of the readincgs at the beginning it the end of the period are tvned in the first and second columns, respectiv d c movil/ig the carriage into the computing zone corresponding to 'the Present column, 'the reading 57,500 tulen the end of the -period is typed, und, the saine time, duc to the per positioning oi' 'the selector 3i corresp, ling to the second register, the number is automatically indexed the secon mein registern litter the completion of the indexing of the number, the dial-Wheels on the second or :mitin register uro actuated in the usual manner in accordance with the pins indexed the various pin-bers.

lhe carriage is then shif1- a position to write in the .i the pin-bars associated with g2g meneer) indicated in Figure 2, the `machine is set tor vsubtraction before the number is typed in this column, and, by means of a suitably positioned denomination-selector 31,having atappet 32 in position to engage the jacks 33 :tor the second or main register, the number 53,400 is indexed'for subtraction on the corresponding pin-bars, and, when the typing is completed, this number is subtracted in the usual manner, giving a readingon the dialwheels of 4,100.

The carriage is then-moved into the third zone corresponding to -the Consumption column, as indicated in Figure Q, by means of properly-positioned selectors having tappets suitably positioned thereon. Vlhe number 4,100, typed in the Gonsumption7 column, will be indexed on the pin-bars for the second or main register and the third or .special ree;- ister of which use is made in ascertaining the required decimal number. (lt is also indexed upon the irst or quantity-accumulating register.) Upon completion ot the typing of the number 4,100 and operation ot' the general operator, said number is subtracted, so that the second or main register is cleared. lt`

will be understood that the machine is set for subtraction during` the typing of the number 4,100 in the Consumption column. .llt is desired, however, to enter or index a decimal of this number in the third register. 1n obtaining the required result, the digits on the dial- Wheels in the third register are arranged in the reverse of the usual order. (The same is true of the rst register.)v

rithe bill shown in Figure 2 is made out for gas sold at therate of one dollar per thousand cubic feet, and it is desired to have. the charge $4.10 show inthe third or exhibiting register, rlihis is effected by running the same digits into said special register, but with the digits showing in lower denominational orders respectively. iin the special register, the righthand punctuation-mark 22 is the decimal point. To convert the Whole-number register into a decimal-noting register at will, a sliutter 41 is supported for sliding movement on the casing 21 by screws 42 extending through a slot 43 in an extension 44 ot the shutter, the slot being of suicient length to permit the shutter to be moved to the lett suiiciently to cover the digit oflowest denomination ordinarily seen through the sight-opening, and to be moved to the right to leave the dial-wheel of lowest denomination uncovered thereby and permit the register to be used in the ordinary manner `whenever it is desired to use the entire register v'tor whole numbers.

After ruiming the charge or amount $4.10 into the third or 'exhibiting register, the car riage is shifted into the Zone corresponding to the Amount column, and the reading in the exhibiting register is typed in this column, At the same time this number is automaticaliy indexed :tor addition on. lthe pin-bers corre sponding to the third and fourth registers; the fourth register being used for accumulation of the charges. ln view, however, of the fact that the digits on the dial-wheels ot the third register' are arranged in the reven'e of the usualorder, the ruiming ot the amount into the third register will cause it to be cleared. The charge is run into the fourth yregister additively at the saine time that the third register is cleared. Obviously another shutter 41, similar to that used in connection with the third register, may be used in a standard machine in -connection with the fourth register to convert it into a register of lower denominations.' The three digits written in the last Zone on the. work-sheet co-opcrate with proper denominationselectors.

lt should be understood that the numbers ty-pcd in the Consumption columns o1` di tl'erent bills are accumulated in the iirst register, and that the numbers typed in the Amount columns oi' the various bills are accumulated in the fourth register'.

The invention may be utilized for many other kinds ot' work, such, tor example, as the preparation ot' bills for electric service the rate of ten cents per kilowatt-hour. @bviously, it the bill is for the same number of units as shown in Figure 2, the charge would be $41000, and each ot the denomination-selectors of these registers may be set two ietterspaces to the right et its usual position.

' Variations may be resorted to within the scope ot the inventiomand portions ot the improvements may be used without others. f

Having thus described my invention, li claim:

1. 1n a register for a combined typewriting and computing machine, in combination, a' plurality ot denominational number-wheels, a sight through which results ot' computations may be read 'from said number-wheels, and means for varying the reading oi the denominations of numbers exposed on said number= wheels in accordance with the uses ot register, said varying means comprising punetuation-indications, spaced at intervals to include three number-wheels, and a shutter shittable to cover the lowest order digit wheel to indicate the desired position of the decimal point with reference to numbers displayed in said sight u 2. 1n a combined typewriting and computing machine i-or preparing bills for gas sold at $1.00 per 1000 cubic feet, iny combination, typewriting mechanism and computing mechanism controlled thereby, said computing mechanism including a register in which the amount otgas consumed is computed in cubic 'feet as a result of typing on a bill the present and previous readings of the meter, and a register in which the amount oiE the bill may be read after typing on the bill .number oit' cubic 'feet consum-ed, said lastfentioned register comprising diai-wheels ardenominations lower, the parts he' vof lowest order.

el. rlhe combination with a tv )infr mechanism, of a reversible computing mechanism including a main register for whole numbers, a register comprising dials which are numbered in reverse order, said computing mechanism having provision for punctuation, means controlling said 'registers tor enten ing the same digits in each and in the saine denominations, and means shiftable at will for covering the dial of lowest denomination in the last-mentioned register, converting it into a decimal traction exhibiting register' having a lower range of denominations than the main register and with its two lower denominations pointed off.

5. The combination with a .numeral typewriting mechanism, ot a .computing mechanism co-ordinated therewith and settable to either addition orsubtraction, said computing mechanism including an initially cleared main register in which is ascertained by subtraction, and exhibited, the dill'erence he tween amounts typed in two different zones,

said mechanisms being so coordinated that upon `the amount so exhibited in said register being typed il; a third Zone, said main register is cleared by subtraction, said computing mechanism also including an initially cleared register in which is automatically exhibited a decimal-traction ot 'the amount which is so typed 4in said third Zone, the parts being coordinated to clear the last-mentioned register upon typing in a tourt-h zon-e the fraction that said last-mentioned register exhibits.

G. rthe con'ibination with a numeral typewriting mechanism, ot a computing mechanism co-ordinated therewith and settable to either addition or subtraction, said computing mechanism including an initially cleared main register in which is ascertained by subtraction, and exhibited, the difference between amounts typed in two different Zones, s; d mechanisms being so cti-ordinated that :upon 'the amounts() exhibited in said register bei typed in a third Zone, said main register is cleared by subtree '.on, said computing mechn anisin also including an initially cleared cg ister in which is aujtoinaticall the saine' as those subtracted i register to clear the saine, but which di are exhibited in range et positions sereT Leonesa ordinated to clear the lastfmentioned register upon typing in a fourth zone the fraction that said last-mentioned register exhibits.

7. ln a machine for typing successive entries in differentzones across a bill and simultaneously effecting a corresponding coinputation, the combination of a mainregister for use in a succession of zones, an auxiliary register for use when the difference exhibited by the main register' is copied by the operator into a special zone, and means to be effective in the special zone for clearing` the main register and simultaneously exhibiting in said auxiliary register the product secured by multiplying the aforesaid exhibited dill`e1'- ence by a predetermined decimal multiplier, said auxiliary register being always operative reversely ot said main register.

8. ln a machine for typing successive entries in diiiferent Zones across a hill and simultaneously etlecting a corresponding computation, the combination ot' a main register for use in a succession o't zones, an auxiliary register for use when the diiference exhibited by the main register is copied by the operator into a special zone, means to be effective in the special zone for clearingl the main register and simultaneously exhibiting in said auxiliary register the product secured by multiplying the aforesaid exhibited ditterence by a predetermined decimal multiplier, said auxiliary register being always operative re- 'yersely ot main register and means dependent upon copying said result into still another' Zone, tor, clearing said auxiliary register.,

9. ln a f machine having keycontrelled means, includinga carriage, ior typing entries in successive zones across a bill. and siinultaneoush7 elifect-ing corresponding conn putations, .the combination oi a main regisece-controlled means shitting gister from addition in one .Zone 1fiction in a second and a third zone, an auniliery register also being shifted by the carriage trom one state to another and means o be effective the third zone tor clearing main register and simultaneously exhib said auxiliary register the product by inultiplyingthe diiiference exhibiteo. o' tl f Kegister by a predetermined decimal tiplier, said auxiliary register heir c l ys operative reversely oit T;niin

sec red f 1 n, T s machine nai/nig hey-controlled leans, inena carriage, i'or ,ssirfe zones, the coinbii 1 or an auxiliary accumulating register, s dependent he movement ot' the carriageior causing the rr register to edd in first zone and subtract in the second and u ing the autiiiar rd zone, means v Gister subtract in lll() zona-means fory causing the accumulating register to add in the fourth zone, and denomination-selecting means controlled by said carriage and including means whereby each digit exhibited in the auxiliary register is made of a lower denomination than the digit simultaneously exhibited in the main register, for copying therefrom into the fourth zone, the auxiliary register having means indicating the punctuation point.

1l. In a machine for preparing bills from meter-readings, in combination, typewriting mechanism and computing mechanism controlled thereby, said computing mechanism comprising a register, means for exhibiting upon said register the difference of two successively typed members, a second register also controlled by said typewriting mechanism, and a shutter for changing the apparent denominations of the number-wheels in said second register; so that, when the difference exhibited upo the irst register is typed upon the bill, the charge` with proper indication of the decimal point, will be displayed upon the second register.

12. The combination with a denominationl selecting carriage, of a main register, and an auxiliary register Jfor exhibiting the decimal product of the difference ascertained by the main register with a decimal multiplier, means being provided for exhibiting diii'erent denominations in the auxiliary register from those exhibited in the main register while ,said difference is being written, provision being made for indicating the correct punctuation of the product exhibited by the auxiliary register.

13. The combination with a typingV mechanism, of a reversible computing mechanism including a main register for Whole numbers and a decimal-fraction register comprising dials which are numbered in reverse order, means being provided for pointing oi the two denominations at the right of said fraction register, means under the control of the typing mechanism and dependent upon the zone of typing, for running into the fraction register the digits subtracted out of the main register, and means for exhibiting said digits in a lower range of denominations, in said fraction register.

WALTER E. TORFS. 

